News from the Picturedesk

Studio shoot with Bullet for my Valentine

Spent the last few days photographing the ‘Black Crusade’ tour in the UK. The NEC show had nearly 8000 metal headz chanting ‘Machine f%8king head’ all night. It was great to see a bill that was genuinely good value for a fan. Trivium, Machinehead, Dragonforce, Arch Enemy & Shadowsfall all in one night. I had great access to shoot the show from the pit and on stage and backstage including the dressing rooms. It is said a lot that the days of getting access to do the job well are long gone but the last few days have proved otherwise. Shame the lighting for the first 2 bands was non existent but I guess it was the Black Crusade after all.

Here is Mr William D Drake photographed on the Millenium Bridge, London. It was one of those shoots when you think it isn’t going to work for various reasons but came together beautifully. The main problem was the weather, followed by more people on the bridge on a Sunday morning than expected. William was the original keyboard player from the Cardiacs a band above anything else. He is a true English eccentric respected for his solo work and an entertaining character to photograph. I fitted a flash head within my silver lined photo brolly and triggered the flash via a pocket wizard radio slave. Terry the trumpet player is holding a £3.99 toy trumpet because he was off to see Chelsea play at home after the shoot. Sometimes I love shooting in London – where else can you get a sky to look so grey?

God this band seriously rock!

Me and ‘Bomber’ McMurtrie in the Lotus position